Rigs

Offshore Rig Counts Increase
The U.S. and European offshore rig counts increased since last week, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. In addition, one new rig joined the worldwide drilling fleet.
The U.S. Gulf of Mexico rig count posted a net three-rig increase over last week. With 149 of the area's 195 mobile offshore drilling rigs now under contract, U.S. Gulf offshore rig utilization is 76.4 percent.
The European offshore rig count increased by two rigs compared to last week. This week, 81 of the area's 106 mobile offshore drilling units are under contract. European offshore rig utilization now stands at 76.4 percent, the same as the U.S. Gulf offshore rig utilization rate.
Worldwide, a net five rig increase in the offshore rig count boosted world offshore rig utilization to 76.6 percent. Currently, 487 of the world's 636 mobile offshore drilling units are under contract.

Worldwide offshore rig utilization fell during the week ending August 17, according to ODS-Petrodata Group.
U.S. Gulf of Mexico rig utilization fell 1.8 percent to 77.8 percent this week, with 165 rigs under contract out of a total of 212. European offshore rig utilization also fell one percent to 97.1 percent, with 99 of the regions 102 rigs under contract, according to ODS.
Worldwide offshore rig utilization fell 0.6 percent with 567 out of 653 rigs with contracts.

Offshore rig utilization rose in Europe but declined worldwide and in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico during the week ending June 1, according to ODS-Petrodata Group.
European rig utilization rose by one percentage point to 95.1 percent this week after another rig was placed under contract. Of the regions 102 rigs, 97 are under contract, according to ODS.
But worldwide rig utilization fell to 89.6 percent as the number of contracted rigs declined by two

Worldwide offshore rig utilization was the highest in almost three years during the week ending April 27, according to ODS-Petrodata Group.
Global rig utilization climbed 0.4 percent to 90.1 percent, due to a three-rig net increase in contracted rigs, ODS-Petrodata reported. Of the world's 649 offshore rigs, 585 are under contract.
Worldwide rig utilization is the highest since August 1998.
U.S. Gulf rig utilization is also the highest in almost three years

Norway's Ocean Rig and Friede Goldman Halter signed an agreement, ending a legal dispute over the building of two drilling rigs that was halted earlier this month.
"Work on the rigs, which was suspended briefly by Friede Goldman, causing Ocean Rig to commence arbitration and other legal proceedings against Friede Goldman, resumed in full this morning," it said in a statement to the Oslo Stock Exchange.
"Both companies believe that this latest agreement ..

U.S. Gulf Rig Count Hits 20-Month High
The Gulf of Mexico rig count continues to rebound, and this week reached its highest level since July 1998, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. The Gulf of Mexico rig count is expected to continue to rise as the year progresses.
On March 24, 155 of the 198 mobile offshore drilling rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were under contract. The week's tally represents a four-rig increase over the previous week's count

The boom in U.S. onshore oil and natural gas drilling has yet to peak, bolstering forecasts of continued strong demand for rigs, analysts and executives said this week.
But growth in the onshore rig market is likely to slow down next year, and activity in the offshore market is already tailing off, with some companies sending rigs away from the Gulf of Mexico to other countries where profits may be better.
"We expect to see 30 to 33 percent growth in the total U.S

The number of rigs searching for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by eight to 1,270 during the week ending June 1, according to oil services firm Baker Hughes. Last year the number of U.S. rigs on exploration was 866, Baker Hughes said. Meanwhile, the number of rigs exploring for oil and gas in Canada rose 28 to 291, compared to 270 last year.
The number of rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico fell by seven to 158, compared to 130 a year ago.

Worldwide rig utilization decreased the week ending December 15, according to Offshore Data Services (ODS). With 560 of the world's 647 mobile offshore drilling rigs under contract, worldwide offshore rig utilization fell 0.6 percent to 86.6 percent. The rig utilization rate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico fell because of a one-rig decrease, bringing the number of mobile offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf under contract to 181 out of 207, bringing utilization down 0.9 percent to 87.4 percent

U.S. drillers this week added oil rigs for a seventh consecutive week, according to a closely followed report on Friday, even as analysts revise down rig count growth forecasts and energy firms become more cautious the longer crude holds below $50 a barrel.
Drillers added 15 oil rigs in the week to Aug. 12, bringing the total rig count up to 396, compared with 672 a year ago, energy services firm Baker Hughes Inc said. <RIG-OL-USA-BHI>

Evac Group, the world’s leading provider of integrated waste, wastewater, and water management systems for the marine, offshore, and building industries, has acquired Uson Marine. The acquisition is expected to increase Evac’s market share in dry and wet waste management systems

Chicago based Alps Wire Rope Corporation has been appointed as a distributor for U.K.-based stainless steel shackle and wire rope fitting manufacturer Petersen Stainless Rigging Ltd.
Stock is currently being held for immediate delivery from Alps’ Houston location of Petersen’s

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. announced today that it has agreed with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. ("DSME") to delay the requirement to take delivery of Atwood's two newbuild ultra-deepwater drillships, the Atwood Admiral and the Atwood Archer, by two years to September 30

U.S. energy companies this week added the most oil rigs since July 2015, extending the seven-month drilling recovery as crude prices rose to a near 17-month high.
Drillers added 21 oil rigs in the week to Dec. 9, bringing the total count up to 498, the most since January

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a stability letter to America’s newest tall ship for operation on exposed waters, confirming that SSV Oliver Hazard Perry exceeds their most stringent Sailing School Vessel standards for stability. This assures that the vessel is on track to begin offshore

James Fisher Subsea implements innovative ROV methodology on six North Sea oil rig platforms for Shell UK
James Fisher Subsea uses its unique ROV methodology on 6 of Shell UK’s platforms over four month period
ROV inspection methodology removed the need for a vessel and reduced downtime

The global market for anchor handling tug supply vessels is poised for growth from 2016-2020, according to a report by Research and Markets.
In the report, which covers the present scenario and the growth prospects market based on total revenue generated from the different geographical

U.S. oil drillers increased rigs this week for a 21th week in the last 24, as energy firms follow through on plans to add rigs made months ago when crude was still trading over the key $50 a barrel level analysts said should lead to more drilling.

GE and Maersk Drilling have partnered for a data analytic-driven pilot project that aims to increase Maersk’s drilling vessels’ productivity and reduce maintenance costs by up to 20 percent.
The two companies have collaborated to deploy SeaStream Insight

Stena Drilling has selected Semco Maritime’s facilities at Hanøytangen for a warm stacking of the offshore drilling rig Stena Don. The rig will be warm stacked at the Hanøytangen yard in Bergen, ready for future work, explains Business Development Manager Øistein

A fire broke out in an engine room on Saipem's Scarabeo 5 drilling rig in the Norwegian Sea on Tuesday, Norwegian oil company Statoil said in a statement.
All 106 crew were accounted for, and there were no reports of injuries, Statoil said.

A fire in an engine room on Saipem's Scarabeo 5 drilling rig is now under control, Norwegian oil major Statoil said in a statement on Tuesday.
"There are no longer visible flames or smoke... and the situation is under control. We are now working on a final clarification and towards

Gulf of Mexico vessel operators want to see sustained, higher oil prices.
After a rough two years, supply boat owners and operators in the Gulf of Mexico hope crude oil prices will improve in 2017. That would encourage activity among the offshore drillers that they service and would put

Hurricane Energy, the UK-based oil and gas company focused on hydrocarbon resources in naturally fractured basement reservoirs, announces that, further to the rig contract amendments entered into with Transocean, the Company exercised its option over the Transocean Spitsbergen drilling rig on 25

Lifting and marine product specialist Rigmarine has opened its fourth global facility in the rural village of Insch, 30 miles to the northwest of Aberdeen, Scotland.
The site, strategically positioned to serve the offshore oil and gas, renewables, construction, break bulk